U.S. patent application number 10/137778 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-14 for fan duct assembly for heat dissipation.
Invention is credited to Jiang, Shuai, Lai, Cheng-Tien, Lee, Tsung-Lung.
Application Number | 20030153259 10/137778 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27657841 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030153259 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee, Tsung-Lung ; et
al. |
August 14, 2003 |
Fan duct assembly for heat dissipation
Abstract
A fan duct assembly (10) includes a fan duct (20) and a fan
(30). The fan duct is connected between a heat sink (50) and a
computer casing (40). The heat sink is mounted on a heat-generating
electronic device (60) accommodated in the computer casing. The fan
duct is made of hard plastic material, and can therefore maintain
its shape. The fan duct includes first and second flues (22, 24)
oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. The fan is
secured in the duct at a junction of the first and second flues.
Thus, the fan duct assembly provides a passageway for air to travel
between the heat sink and an exterior of the computer casing.
Inventors: |
Lee, Tsung-Lung; (Tu-Chen,
TW) ; Jiang, Shuai; (Shenzhen, CN) ; Lai,
Cheng-Tien; (Tu-Chen, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEI TE CHUNG
FOXCONN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1650 MEMOREX DRIVE
SANTA CLARA
CA
95050
US
|
Family ID: |
27657841 |
Appl. No.: |
10/137778 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/184 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/441 20130101;
H05K 7/20172 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/184 |
International
Class: |
H05K 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 8, 2002 |
TW |
91201719 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fan duct assembly comprising: a duct comprising integrally
formed first and second flues which are oriented substantially
perpendicular to each other; and a fan secured in the duct and
disposed at a junction of the first and second flues, for
facilitating airflow in the duct.
2. The fan duct assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
flue is substantially cylindrical.
3. The fan duct assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
flue has a substantially rectangular cross-section.
4. The fan duct assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of
the second flue distant from the first flue is flared.
5. The fan duct assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least
one flange is bent perpendicularly outwardly from said end of the
second flue.
6. The fan duct assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least
one through hole is defined in the at least one flange, for
extension of at least one screw therethrough.
7. The fan duct assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depth of
the fan is similar to a width of the second flue at said
junction.
8. The fan duct assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct is
made of hard plastic material.
9. A computer system comprising: a computer casing; a
heat-generating device accommodated in the computer casing; a heat
sink mounted on the heat-generating device; a duct connected with
the heat sink and the computer casing, the duct comprising first
and second flues that are oriented at an angle to each other; and a
fan secured in the duct and in communication with both the first
and second flues.
10. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the duct is
made of hard plastic material.
11. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first
and second flues are integrally formed.
12. The computer system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first
flue is mounted on the heat sink.
13. The computer system as claimed in claim 11, wherein an end of
the second flue distant from the first flue is flared, and the
flared end is engaged with the computer casing such that the second
flue is in communication with an exterior of the computer
casing.
14. The computer system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first
and second flues are formed by molding.
15. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first
and second flues are oriented at a right angel to each other.
16. A computer system comprising: a computer casing; a
heat-generating device located in the computer casing; a heat sink
mounted on the heat-generating device; a duct communicating between
said computer casing and said heat sink, and defining two openings
in two different directions; and a fan disposed in the duct;
wherein the fan is aligned with both the heat sink and one of the
two openings along one of said two directions, and also is aligned
with the other of the two openings along the other of said two
directions.
17. The assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said fan is not
close to either the computer casing or the heat sink.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to fan duct assemblies, and
more particularly to a fan duct assembly for dissipation of heat
from a heat-generating electronic device.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, in a computer casing, a heat sink is
attached to a heat-generating electronic device to remove heat
therefrom. A rotary fan is attached on the heat sink to improve
heat dissipation from the heat sink. Thus, heat dissipation from
the electronic device is improved. However, a lot of hot air from
the fan and the heat sink remains within the computer casing,
because there is no direct passageway for the hot air to escape to
an exterior of the casing. Uncontrolled flow of the hot air within
the casing results in inefficient air exchange between the interior
and the exterior of the casing. Modem electronic devices frequently
generate copious amounts of heat. Consequently, the conventional
heat sink and fan assembly often does not satisfactorily dissipate
heat.
[0005] Taiwan Patent Application No. 84214047 discloses a fan duct
assembly to overcome the above-mentioned problems. The fan duct
assembly comprises a hood, an air conduit, a fan, and a fan cover.
The hood is provided on a heat sink that is attached on a
heat-generating electronic device. The fan is screwed to the fan
cover. The combined fan and fan cover is secured to the computer
casing. An air outlet is defined in the hood. An end of the air
conduit is in communication with the air outlet of the hood. An
opposite end of the air conduit is engaged with the fan. The fan
duct assembly thereby provides a direct air passageway from the
heat sink to the exterior of the computer casing.
[0006] However, installation of the hood, the air conduit, the fan
and the fan cover is unduly complicated and time-consuming. In
addition, the fan is disposed at an end of the air conduit. Airflow
speed is reduced at an opposite end of the air conduit.
Furthermore, the air conduit is made of pliable material. The air
conduit is prone to become unnecessarily bent, resulting in
increased airflow resistance within the air conduit. This further
reduces airflow speed. The heat removal capability of the fan duct
assembly is all too often inadequate.
[0007] It is strongly desired to provide a fan duct assembly which
overcomes all the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a fan duct assembly which has a simple structure.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
fan duct assembly which maximizes airflow speed therethrough to
enhance heat dissipation capability.
[0010] In order to achieve the objects set out above, a fan duct
assembly of the present invention comprises a fan duct and a fan.
The fan duct is connected between a heat sink and a computer
casing. The heat sink is mounted on a heat-generating electronic
device accommodated in the computer casing. The fan duct is made of
hard plastic material, and can therefore maintain its shape. The
fan duct comprises first and second flues oriented substantially
perpendicular to each other. The fan is secured in the duct at a
junction of the first and second flues. Thus, the fan duct assembly
provides a passageway for air to travel between the heat sink and
an exterior of the computer casing.
[0011] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan duct assembly in
accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed with part of the fan
duct assembly cut away for better illustration; and
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fan duct assembly
attached between a computer casing and a heat sink that is mounted
on a heat-generating electronic device in the computer casing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to
describe the present invention in detail.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a fan duct assembly 10 in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a
fan duct 20 and a fan 30. The fan duct 20 provides a passageway for
air to travel from a heat sink 50 to an exterior of a computer
casing 40. The heat sink 50 is mounted on a heat-generating
electronic device 60 that is located in the computer casing 40. The
fan 30 is secured in the fan duct 20, to force exchange of air
between an interior and the exterior of the computer casing 40.
[0017] The fan duct 20 is preferably made of hard plastic material,
which is light yet sturdy and enables the fan duct 20 to maintain
its shape. The fan duct 20 comprises first and second flues 22, 24
which are oriented generally perpendicular to each other. The first
and second flues 22, 24 are integrally formed by molding. The first
flue 22 is generally cylindrical. The second flue 24 has a
generally rectangular cross-section. A width W (see FIG. 1) is
defined in the second flue 24 at a junction of the first and second
flues 22, 24. A distal end 25 of the second flue 24 that is distant
from the first flue 22 is flared. Flanges 26 are bent
perpendicularly outwardly from free extremities of the distal end
25. A plurality of through holes 28 is defined in the flanges 26,
for extension of a plurality of screws 70 (see FIG. 3) therethrough
to connect the second flue 24 to the computer casing 40. The fan 30
is a rotary fan. A depth (not labeled) of the fan 30 is similar to
the width W of the second flue 24.
[0018] In assembly of the fan duct assembly 10, the fan 30 is
inserted into the first flue 22 until it reaches an inner face of
the second flue 24. The fan 30 is thus disposed at the junction of
the first and second flues 22, 24. A base of the fan 30 is attached
to the inner face of the second flue 24 by conventional means such
as cementing. The fan 30 is thereby secured in the fan duct 20.
[0019] Referring particularly to FIG. 3, in use of the fan duct
assembly 10, an end of the first flue 22 that is distant from the
second flue 24 is mounted on the heat sink 50 by conventional
means. The flanges 26 of the second flue 24 are attached to the
computer casing 40 with the screws 70, such that an interior of the
second flue 24 is in communication with the exterior of the
computer casing 40. Thus, an air passageway from the heat sink 50
to the exterior of the computer casing 40 is attained.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates operation of the fan 30 of the fan duct
assembly 10. Air is sucked through the first flue 22 into the fan
30 substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the fan 30, and
air exits the fan 30 into the second flue 24 substantially
perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the fan 30. The fan 30
accordingly facilitates airflow from the heat sink 50 to the
exterior of the computer casing 40 through the fan duct 20.
Therefore, heat conducted from the heat-generating device 60 to the
heat sink 50 is speedily dissipated. This facilitates removal of
heat from the heat-generating device 60.
[0021] A direction of rotation of the fan 30 of the fan duct
assembly 10 can be reversed. When this is done, air is sucked
through the second flue 24 into the fan 30 substantially
perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the fan 30, and air exits
the fan 30 into the first flue 22 substantially parallel to the
axis of rotation of the fan 30. The fan 30 accordingly facilitates
airflow from the exterior of the computer casing 40 to the heat
sink 50 through the fan duct 20. This facilitates cooling of the
heat-generating device 60.
[0022] In the fan duct assembly 10 of present invention, the fan
duct 20 is integrally formed by molding. This obviates the need for
any assembly of separate parts. The fan 30 is secured in the fan
duct 20, and facilitates air convection in the fan duct assembly
10. The fan duct 20 can be shaped to optimize airflow according to
the particular configurations of the fan 30, the heat sink 50, the
heat-generating device 60 and the computer casing 40. The fan duct
20 is made of sturdy material, which ensures unobstructed airflow,
optimized air exchange, and maximized heat dissipation
capability.
[0023] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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